On politics and generations
I saw a tweet today where a 20-something blamed "35-40+ year olds" for expecting the younger generation to fix things "for them" instead of doing it themselves.
I understand the sentiment, but it shows a woeful lack of knowledge about some key details. Namely this: those of us in Generation X (we're in the general 35-60 year old age range at this point), are outnumbered, not just by Millennials, but also by the generation that preceded us. The Baby Boomers were the largest generation cohort until the Millennial generation. Combine them with the so-called "Greatest Generation" (who, aside from beating the Nazis, really weren't all that great), and for pretty much our entire voting lives, we've been outnumbered.
It's really hard to have any political clout when you're outnumbered, and thanks to the way they've been holding on to jobs and wrecking the economy for decades, we've been out-funded, to boot. Ever notice that there still aren't all that many Generation X politicians at the Federal level? We got one President in Obama (and even he was from the early end of the generation - he's not someone who grew up with computers, for instance), and then in 2016 the election was a choice between Boomers, once again.
Generation X has a reputation for not being politically involved, for feeling disaffected, but "not doing anything about it." Take a look at the demographic results from any election, and you'll see why: we've always been outnumbered. It's hard to stay enthusiastic about it when you always lose, quite frankly. In my teens and 20's, I participated in protests. I worked for a campaign. And I've always, always voted - every election, since I turned 18.
But it's only now, as the Millennials are getting to the point where most of them can vote, where the next generation after them are starting be politically active (and just starting to be able to vote) where I finally, FINALLY feel like there are enough of us to counter just how blasted many Boomers there are at the ballot box.
I'm glad to see it. As a liberal progressive, I'm hopeful that a progressive platform can finally be enacted. I'm just a little irked to be blamed for the shortcomings of those who came before us, and who made sure we wouldn't have the ability to do anything about it.
I understand the sentiment, but it shows a woeful lack of knowledge about some key details. Namely this: those of us in Generation X (we're in the general 35-60 year old age range at this point), are outnumbered, not just by Millennials, but also by the generation that preceded us. The Baby Boomers were the largest generation cohort until the Millennial generation. Combine them with the so-called "Greatest Generation" (who, aside from beating the Nazis, really weren't all that great), and for pretty much our entire voting lives, we've been outnumbered.
It's really hard to have any political clout when you're outnumbered, and thanks to the way they've been holding on to jobs and wrecking the economy for decades, we've been out-funded, to boot. Ever notice that there still aren't all that many Generation X politicians at the Federal level? We got one President in Obama (and even he was from the early end of the generation - he's not someone who grew up with computers, for instance), and then in 2016 the election was a choice between Boomers, once again.
Generation X has a reputation for not being politically involved, for feeling disaffected, but "not doing anything about it." Take a look at the demographic results from any election, and you'll see why: we've always been outnumbered. It's hard to stay enthusiastic about it when you always lose, quite frankly. In my teens and 20's, I participated in protests. I worked for a campaign. And I've always, always voted - every election, since I turned 18.
But it's only now, as the Millennials are getting to the point where most of them can vote, where the next generation after them are starting be politically active (and just starting to be able to vote) where I finally, FINALLY feel like there are enough of us to counter just how blasted many Boomers there are at the ballot box.
I'm glad to see it. As a liberal progressive, I'm hopeful that a progressive platform can finally be enacted. I'm just a little irked to be blamed for the shortcomings of those who came before us, and who made sure we wouldn't have the ability to do anything about it.